Other conditions decisions — 2004

The veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for aid and attendance of another person or housebound status is being remanded due to a lack of VA examination records. The RO must ensure all notification and development action required by the VCAA are completed, including obtaining medical records from private providers.

The veteran's surviving spouse was denied entitlement to nonservice-connected improved death pension benefits due to her income exceeding the maximum allowable rate for a surviving spouse without children.

The Board found that the veteran's respiratory disorder did not begin during service and was not caused by asbestos exposure, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Board found no evidence to support the veteran's claim that his current disabilities are related to the August 1984 augmentation genioplasty and subsequent implant removal, concluding that there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to VA treatment.

The Board has ordered the case to be remanded due to incomplete medical records and the need for an opinion regarding whether a service-connected condition contributed to the veteran's death.

The Board has granted service connection for a right inguinal hernia, finding that the veteran's second period of active duty aggravated his pre-existing condition.

The Board found that the veteran's cause of death, colon cancer, was not related to his military service and denied both the claim for service connection for the cause of death and eligibility for Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for further development and consideration of the issue on appeal, which is related to service connection for residuals of extraction of a supernumerary tooth.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO.

The Board granted a 60 percent evaluation for Crohn's disease from June 1, 1972, to January 1, 1991.

The veteran's initial ratings for his right hand and groin conditions have been granted, but both remain at their current levels.

The Board found that the veteran's left testicular condition was not incurred or aggravated by service, and denied his claim for residuals of a left orchiectomy. The thoracic spine disorder issue is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for waiver of recovery of overpayment of $60,477 in VA DIC benefits.

The Board has reopened the appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death due to new and material evidence submitted since the last denial. The cause of death was determined to be an enterocaval fistula due to peptic ulcer disease, with cardiac air embolism as a contributing factor.

The veteran's somatoform disorder NOS with RSD, rated as 70 percent disabling from September 1, 1992, has been granted a higher evaluation.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not caused by his exposure to asbestos during service, and therefore denied the claim for service connection for cause of death.

The veteran's infertility, due to service-connected amenorrhea, results in loss of use of a creative organ (ovaries), qualifying her for special monthly compensation based on loss of use of a creative organ.

The veteran's dyspepsia and peptic ulcer disease were rated at 20 percent disabling from August 11, 1993 to May 29, 1995.,From August 1, 1995, the veteran's disability was rated at 40 percent.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder disability, chronic fatigue, and gastrointestinal disability. The gastrointestinal disability is not considered due to an undiagnosed illness or a qualifying chronic multisymptom illness as defined by VA regulations.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for a permanent and total rating for pension purposes due to his failure to report for scheduled VA examinations.